Altercation Took Place On Flight From London To Mumbai

Two pilots who were involved in a fight in the cockpit of a Jet Airways airliner have had their pilot certificates revoked for five years by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, along with being fired by the airline.

The altercation took place on a flight from London to Mumbai January 1 with 324 passengers and 14 crewmembers on board the Boeing 777. The Times of India reports that there were several instances in which the cockpit was left unattended when the male copilot went back to the galley where the female captain of the aircraft was "sobbing" and reluctant to return the cockpit with him.

"DGCA has investigated the occurrence. Keeping in view serious safety lapses endangering the safety of aircraft operations, DGCA has suspended the privileges of license of the both the involved pilots for a period of five years," DGCA chief B S Bhullar told paper.

Both pilots were qualified as captains for the airline, and the man acting as copilot was actually Jet's most senior Boeing 777 captain. He allegedly slapped the female pilot in command of the aircraft, after which she left the cockpit. He went to bring her back to the front of the airplane at least twice, leaving the flight deck unattended, according to the report.

The reason for the fight was not reported. The two had their licenses suspended by DGCA shortly after the incident was reported, and Jet Airways terminated their employment soon thereafter.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report